Chapter 35 - Summary, David Copperfield | David Copperfield - Summary, Themes & Characters - Novels PDF Download

Depression

• David suggests that Mr. Dick could stay in the same place where Mr. Peggotty slept during his stay in London.
• Mr. Dick tells David that he has no idea how Miss Betsey came to lose all her money.
• David is so frustrated that he takes it out on Mr. Dick, and explains that no money means starvation for Miss Betsey and Mr. Dick.
• This really freaks Mr. Dick out.
• David tells Mr. Dick that the best thing they can do is to stay cheerful and not add to Miss Betsey's troubles.
• Mr. Dick tries, but he keeps staring at Miss Betsey as though he is going to see her waste away to nothing right before his eyes.
• Miss Betsey behaves with a calmness that really impresses David.
• David's aunt asks for ale instead of her usual glass of wine before bed, so that they can save the wine for later.
• Peggotty walks Mr. Dick back to the shop where he is staying.
• David brings back some ale for Miss Betsey.
• Miss Betsey tells David that she has really come to like Peggotty.
• David's aunt starts to tear up, and informs David that Peggotty has offered her money, as though Peggotty has so much of it in the first place.
• While David was out getting ale, Miss Betsey and Peggotty were gossiping.
• Peggotty has told Miss Betsey all about little Emily, and Miss Betsey comments on her foolishness.
• David tells Miss Betsey that he has fallen in love with Dora.
• Miss Betsey asks all about her: is she silly? Is she light-headed?
• David has never thought of these questions before.
• He answers that he is sure that he and Dora could never love anybody else.
• Miss Betsey shakes her head and comments that David reminds her of his mother.
• David needs someone who is faithful and serious in his life.
• He promises that Dora is earnest, but Miss Betsey just shakes her head and tells him he is blind.
• Miss Betsey says they should hope for better fortunes so that David can get married, if he really wants to.
• David's aunt goes to bed, and David takes the sofa.
• He lies there worrying about what will happen when he tells Dora about his poor fortune.
• The night feels ages long as David worries and has bad dreams, and Miss Betsey paces all around.
• The next morning, David walks to the office early to speak to Mr. Spenlow.
• David explains that he has had bad news from his aunt – that she is ruined – and wants to cancel his apprenticeship.
• Mr. Spenlow says that it's neither common nor professional to cancel such a thing.
• David's boss claims that it's just Mr. Jorkins who would object; if it were up to Mr. Spenlow, he'd let David go.
• David asks if he can approach Mr. Jorkins directly.
• Mr. Spenlow warns David that it will be useless.
• Still, David heads out to meet Mr. Jorkins.
• Mr. Jorkins hears David's story and expresses sympathy, but he says that, if Mr. Spenlow objects, well, there's nothing he can do about it.
• David tells Mr. Jorkins that Mr. Spenlow doesn't object personally.
• Mr. Jorkins says it's impossible, and anyway, he has an appointment at his bank.
• The man runs out the door and hides from the office for three days.
• David then begs Mr. Spenlow to use his influence to persuade Mr. Jorkins.
• Mr. Spenlow promises David that nothing will change Mr. Jorkins's mind.
• David is confused: which of the two men, Spenlow or Jorkins, are really objecting to his request?
• Disappointed, David goes home: there's no way he's going to get his aunt's money back.
• As he's walking home, David sees someone passing by in a carriage: it's Agnes!
• David tells Agnes that she is the person he most wants to talk to in all the world (well, except maybe for Dora).
• Agnes is on her way to see Miss Betsey at David's rooms.
• Miss Betsey left the Wickfields a very short and unclear note stating that she has been ruined, but that no one needs to worry about her because she'll be fine.
• Mr. Wickfield and Uriah Heep had business in London, and Agnes hitched a ride to check on Miss Betsey.
• Apparently, Mr. Wickfield and Uriah Heep have become partners.
• It gets worse: Uriah Heep and his mother have moved in to Mr. Wickfield's house.
• Uriah Heep has David's old room.
• Agnes fondly remembers the old days when David lived with them.
• She hates that she can't stick as close to her father as she wants: Agnes worries that Uriah Heep is plotting some kind of betrayal of Mr. Wickfield.
• Agnes asks if David knows what has happened to Miss Betsey's money; of course, he doesn't yet.
• They walk in to David's rooms to find Miss Betsey alone.
• Apparently, she has been arguing with Mrs. Crupp, who would like Miss Betsey to leave.
• But she's calmed down a bit now.
• Mr. Dick is out with Peggotty looking at the sights of London.
• David explains that he tried to cancel his work with Spenlow and Jorkins, but was refused.
• Miss Betsey says that was kind of him, but stupid.
• She then presents her own personal history (weirdly, in third person).
• What has happened is this: Miss Betsey has had a number of secure investments that netted her a lot of money.
• However, her business manager (Agnes's father, Mr. Wickfield) hasn't been doing as well with her money as he used to.
• So, Miss Betsey got fed up investing through Mr. Wickfield, and decided to try various markets herself.
• Unfortunately, this has proved disastrous, and Miss Betsey has lost all of her money.
• Agnes seems oddly relieved to hear this news.
• David realizes that she had been worrying that Mr. Wickfield had ruined Miss Betsey.
• Miss Betsey turns to Agnes and David and asks what she should do.
• She can count on about 70 pounds a year in rent money from the cottage (which is about U.S. $7,800 in today's money; see this website).
• How is she supposed to keep herself and David alive on that kind of money? (Mr. Dick has his own income, so he's safe.)
• David says he's got to do something.
• Miss Betsey is worried that David will join the army and get himself killed.
• Agnes asks if David has signed a lease for his apartment?
• Yes, he has.
• Miss Betsey agrees that she has enough cash to pay the rent for the term of his lease – the next six months.
• So, Miss Betsey decides that she will stay with David and they will rent a room for Mr. Dick nearby.
• Agnes suggests that, if David has time, he might take on the job of secretary to Dr. Strong.
• David is delighted at this news and thanks Agnes for being so helpful.
• As Miss Betsey, Peggotty, and Agnes set to work rearranging and tidying David's rooms, Mr. Wickfield and Uriah Heep arrive.
• David is absolutely horrified at the change between the two men: Mr. Wickfield now seems totally dependent, basically bowing down to Uriah Heep.
• Miss Betsey compliments Agnes's good sense to Mr. Wickfield. She adds that Agnes is worth more than his whole firm.
• Uriah Heep chimes in that he'd be happy to see Agnes become a partner.
• Miss Betsey shuts him down: she tells Uriah that he's already become a partner himself, and that should be enough for him.
• Uriah Heep tells David that he's happy to see David even under such awful circumstances.
• David is sure that Uriah is only too happy to see David brought low like this.
• Miss Betsey scolds Uriah Heep for jerking around and waving his arms like an eel.
• In a dull, forced-sounding voice, Mr. Wickfield claims that anything Uriah Heep says, Mr. Wickfield agrees with.
• David is sure that Uriah Heep has made Mr. Wickfield say this to impress David.
• Uriah Heep heads out, and Mr. Wickfield and Agnes stay for a chat.
• Mr. Wickfield brightens up without Uriah Heep's presence.
• Agnes and David go out to dinner, along with Mr. Wickfield, and it really is like old times.
• David is so moved by Agnes's goodness and kindness that his heart feels stronger for her presence.